Slide fastener



May 23, 193.3. s, H NORTON 1,910,355

SLIDE FASVTENER Filed Jan. 9. 1931 INVEN TOR.

S'wnuel HNbrion A TTORNE Patented May 23, 1933' .associated parts of the fastener.

SAIUEL H. HORNE, 01'

PATENT OFFICE IEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOB 1'0 H0O IASTENER. CONPANY, A GOBPOBL'I'ION 01' PENNSYLVANIA suns res-rm Application mes Janna- 8, 1881. Serial No. 507,571.

My invention relates to slide fasteners and particularly to devices for preventing unintentional opening of the fasteners when closed.

An object of the invention is to rovidea slider for slide fasteners which em odies an improved locking device.

Another object is to provide an improved device for locking the slider which will engage the fastener elements where they are securely fastened to the stringers.

A still further object is to provide an 1 mproved locking device for sliders of shde fasteners wherein a plurality of locking projections engage fastener elements on the opposite stringers.

Other objects and advantages of my mvention will more fully appear durmg the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointe out in the appended 1 claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. 'In the-drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a slide fastener embodying my im rovement.

- Fig. 2 is a longitu l sectional view through the slider and a portion of the fastener.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional a view shift through the slider and locking device and Fig. 4 is a view similar to .Fig. 3 with the locking device in a different position.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the slider. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking detent.

The fastener with which my invention is illustrated is a well-known article of commerce and is similar to the fastener of the patent to Gideon Sundback, 1,219,881, March 20, 1917. It is therefore believed that only a brief general explanation with a more detailed description of the parts which-coop cute with t e invention will be suflicient. As shown in Fig. 1, the fastener comprises stringers 10 which as usualare in the form of flat tapes or braids having corded edges which maybe readily gripped by the fastener elements. The metal astener elements 11. are a in spaced relation, one series on the edge of each stringer;i the elements of one series bemg staggere with relation to the elements of'the other series. A slider 12 is mounted for slidable movement along the stringers and when operated in one direction, disengages the fastener elements to open the fastener and engages the fastener elements to close the fastener. Suitable end sto members 13 are attached to the stringers or limiting opening and closing of the slider.

The slider 12 comprises upper and lower wings 14 and'15 respectively 'oined to ther at one end by an integral we go shape connectmg portion 16 and having inturned side flanges 17. The wmgs, neck and side flanges define a Y-shaped channel 18 having branches 19 diverging at the rear end and converging into a single channel at the front end of the slider. As is well under stood in the art, these channels serve to guide the fastener elements into and-out of engagement and disengagement in progressive order as the slider moves along the stringers. In order that the operator ma movev the slider along the stringers, a p member 20 is attached to the slider by a track lug 21 in such a manner that it may from one end to the other in thed1- rection-of movement. The narrow end of the slider is referred to as the forward end and the wide end as the rear end.

Unless some retaining device is provided,

it will readily be seen .that due to the shape of the slider channels, the slider will move back along the elements when the fastener is used in articles that impose a stress on the fastener in the locality of the slider. To

prevent'this undesired movement, I have devised a locking combination including a locking bar or detent 22extendjng across the body of the slider and mounted thereon vfor limited longitudinal movement. The locking bar 22 extends through a hole 23 in lug 21 which is made i somewhat longer t an the width of the lock.-

the pull attachin bar or detent 22 in order toallow longitiidin al movement. The upper wing of the,

slider is notched out on both sides to provide recesses 24 and 25 which extend into the side edges of the slider and the diverging channels and which cut awa a portion of the side flanges 17. The loc g detent 22 has projections 26 and 27 which extend at right angles to the bar and seat themselves in the recesses 24 and 25 respectively for engagement with the extreme attached ends of the fastener element. As noted, each fastener element has what may be termed a jaw end 28 for attachment to the stringer and an interlocking end 29 free from the stringer, and

it is'especially desirable to lock by engagement with the attached end.

The space between the locking members 26 and 27 is made just about equal to the width of the slider channel at 1ts narrow end. When the detent is shifted to the wide end of the s der, the projections 26 and 27 enter into the diverging channels and atthis point the stringers are spread apart slightly and the attached ends ofthe fastener elements will be further apart than the space between the locking projections. It will thus be seen in Fig. 4 that the locking pro ections will engage in the spaces between two adjacent fastener elements on each of the stringers. The shifting toward the wide end to lock the slider. will take place more or less automatically when a pull is placed on the stringers in the locality of the slider, and the locking detent will catch on the corners of the fastener elements and lock the slider against further movement. If the locking detent should fail to drop into locking position, it may easily be shifted by hand. Unlocking may readily be accom-' plished without special attention from the operator because when he takes hold of the pull 20 to shift the slider, he will automatictally move the locking detent .to open posiion.

As a result of my invention, it will be observed that a very simple and effective looking device has been provided which will prevent unintended movement of the slider. An effective lock against opening movement is produced because the fastener elements are engaged on both stringers at points where they are most securely attached to the flexi-. ble stringers.

While"I have in this application specifically described oneembodiment which my invention may assume'in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the nrposesof illustration and description an that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a continuous fastening device of the class described, a pair of members to be fastened, cooperating series of fastener elements attached to said members, a slider movable along said elements for progres- I sively engaging and disengaging the same and having a recess formed in one side edge separate from said locking member adapted also to control said locking member.

2. In a continuous fastening device of the class described, a pair of flexible stringers, cooperating series of fastener elements attached to the adjacent edges of said stringers, each element havin an interlocking end projecting free from time strin er, a slider movable along said stringers or engaging and disengaging said elements, and a locking member carried by said slider and movable relative to said slider rectilinearly only in a direction parallel to said stringers, said locking member in one position having a projection formed and positioned to engage a fastener element to lock the slider in posi- .tion. i

3. In afastening device of the class described a pair 'of flexible stringers, cooperating series of spaced fastener elements arranged along the adjacent edges of said stringers, each element having an interloclcing end projecting free from the stringer and a jaw end by which it is attached, and a locking detent carried by said slider and capable of relative movement on the slider longitudinally of the stringers, said detent extending across the slider body and having a projection on each end thereof formed and positioned to enter between the extreme jaw ends of adjacent fastener elements on both stringers.

4. In a fastening device of the class described, a pair of flexible stringers, cooperating series of fastener elements arranged in closely spaced relation along the ad acent edges of said stringers, each element having a aw endfor attaching it to the stringer and an interlocking end projecting free from 1 in one extreme position of said detent the same engages the jaw ends of fastener elements on opposite stringers for locking the slider and in the other position of movement a being disengaged from the elements, and a pull member on said slider formed and positioned also to control movement of said detent.

5. In a fastening device of the class described, apair of flexible stringers, cooperating series of fastener elements arranged in spaced relation along the adjacent edges of the stringers, each element having a jaw end for attaching it to its stringer and an interlocking end, a slider having a Y-shaped channel to receive said elements with diverging branches at the one end converging into a single branch at the other end, guide flanges at least one of which has a recess extending into one of the diverging branches of the channel, a locking mernloer slidable longitudinally of said slider and having a projection formed and positioned to move in said recess and into engagement with the fastener elements for locking the slider.

6. In a fastener device of the class described, a pair of flexible stringers, cooperating fastener elements arranged in spaced relation along the adjacent edges of the stringers, a slider movable along, said elements for engaging and disengaging the same, said slider comprising parallel spaced wings united at one end, the lateral edges of at least one of said wings being turned inwardly to provide guide flanges, said slider wings being relatively narrow at one end and gradually widening from a point spaced from the front end to the rear end of the slider, one of said wings being cut away along at least one side edge in said widening port on to expose portions of the fastener elements, and a locking detent formed and positioned to move in said cut away portion '35 to engage the fastener elements for locking the slider.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 1

SAMUEL H. NORTON. 

